Lightning strikes in district final
John GORDON/Langley Times Langley Christian’s Jeremy Kleingelfink (#10) blocks Credo Christian’s Nathan Van Delden shot during the Langley district junior boys’ volleyball championship game on Monday night at D.W. Poppy.
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Updated: November 13, 2009 10:39 AM
After placing fourth at a season-opening tournament at Douglas College, Langley Christian’s junior boys volleyball team has — pardon the pun — caught Lightning in a bottle.
Since that tourney back at season’s start, the Lightning have run the table, winning all of their league matches and tournament play.
And on Monday afternoon, the team defeated Credo Christian to capture the Langley district banner.
Both teams move on to the upcoming Fraser Valley championships, which will be held Nov. 21, 23 and 24 in Coquitlam.
“I knew we had some excellent talent on the team (but) I was not expecting this success,” said coach Eric Van Huizen. “The success is truly a team effort with everyone making contributions to the success.”
Langley Christian went 6-0 during league play but after a week off, they were not playing as efficiently as they normally do when the playoffs began on Monday.
In the semifinals, they dispatched Walnut Grove, while the Kodiaks knocked off the second-place Langley Fundamental Titans.
“Credo put up a good fight with their awesome defence (and) they did a nice job of putting the ball over the net and forcing us to earn the point,” Van Huizen said.
“A good strategy as we were not playing well.”
But Langley Christian soon got back into their groove and took the match over, winning 2-0 (25-22,25-16).
Van Huizen says the success of the team is because they are all playing as one.
“No egos need to be stroked on this team,” he said.
“The team has taken on the personality of its leaders.
“The leadership core on the team are high achievers and are constantly pushing themselves and the team to continually improve.”
